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A Gourmet-Chic Kitchen Reno in Wychwood Park

The Brief: A young family seeking new digs made an exciting find in the form of a century-old house. Unfortunately, it hadn’t been refreshed since the ’70s. Having relocated from a loft downtown, the first-time homeowners wanted a more open-concept floor plan for the dated property – but debated about just how much modernity the house would embrace. They presented their conflicting visions to StudioAC, which proposed relocating the kitchen to the rear addition’s mudroom and replacing it with something a little more simpatico.

The Solution: A total gut job created a free-flowing first floor culminating in a kitchen that acts as both family hub and visual focal point. The navy and ivory cookery’s toned-down take on a high-impact palette effectively marries modern and traditional. Further fusions of styles are found in the details: face-frame cabinetry adds period charm, and a sleek wooden shelf showcases minimalist serving ware. The 2.4-metre peninsula is ready for work and casual meals, while a back door off the side mudroom connects the kitchen to the cedar-clad patio.